JAKARTA - Pep Guardiola managed to bring Manchester City to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League last 16, Wednesday, February 26. The Premier League club changed the game in the last 15 minutes despite playing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zinedine Zidane's men took the lead before they conceded two goals in five minutes. The second leg will be held at the Etihad Stadium within three weeks, but is the match over?
"Not yet. If there is a team that can comeback against anyone, it's Real Madrid," said Guardiola, launching Marca.
"We conceded goals when we played better and then we scored when they played better. The Champions League is like this: the ups and downs. We won nothing but win at the Bernabeu," explained the former Barcelona coach.
In line with Guardiola, even though Madrid conceded two away goals, Casemiro still believes Los Blancos will qualify for the quarter-finals.
"The match is not over yet," said Casemiro, although admitting there was a lot of work to be done.
"If any team can come back, it's Real Madrid. We had a fantastic first 75 minutes and we didn't do what we had to do for 15 minutes and they got up," continued the Brazilian midfielder.
After looking enough to control the match for 75 minutes, what really happened in the last 15 minutes to be a fatal mistake?
"No explanation," said Casemiro. "We don't have that 15 minutes of intensity, or control."
Adding to his statement, Casemiro praised Manchester City's aggressive appearance in the dying minutes.
"They are a great team; they attacked twice and scored two goals. There is no excuse. We also had a difficult match at the weekend (El Clasico against Barcelona)."
"The result against (City) has passed; Now we have to think about Barcelona. First, Barcelona, then it will be very difficult (to play) in England (against City)," he concluded.
Unfortunately, Casemiro's high self-confidence will run into trouble as Sergio Ramos was sent off at the end of the match after bringing down Gabriel Jesus on the edge of the penalty area. It is the 26th red card in Ramos' fantastic career as well as the fourth in the Champions League.
Ramos joins Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edgar Davids on four red cards in the Champions League. He will miss the second leg when Madrid travel to the city of Manchester.
4 - Sergio Ramos has conceded his 4th red card in the Champions League, he ties Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edgar Davids for the most. Bully. #RMAMCI pic.twitter.com/bEU275iX3Y
- OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 26, 2020
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